Electronic device and electronic device control method

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are an electronic device and an electronic device control method that can use address information on the basis of an inputted string. The disclosed electronic device is provided with: a memory ( 44 ) that stores an address book that has names and address information; input keys ( 14 ) for inputting strings; a display unit ( 21 ) that displays both an input string inputted via the input keys ( 14 ) and a conversion candidate string which is a conversion candidate for the input string; a search execution unit ( 46 ) that searches the address book on the basis of an input string inputted via the input keys ( 14 ); and a control unit ( 45 ) that has the display unit ( 21 ) display, as a conversion candidate string, a name or address information that corresponds to the input string and was searched for by the search execution unit ( 46 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electronic device including anapplication that makes it possible to input characters, as well as amethod of controlling the electronic device.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there has been a mobile telephone device (an electronicdevice) including: an operation unit for inputting a character string; adisplay unit that displays an input character string and conversioncandidate character strings based on the input character string; and acontrol unit that executes input processing of a conversion candidatecharacter string that is selected by way of the operation unit (seePatent Document 1). There exists a mobile telephone device including astorage unit that stores names and address information in associationwith one another as an address book.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, PublicationNo. 2004-32489

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, in such mobile telephone devices, conversion candidatecharacter strings have been merely input as text (input as characters),based on an input character string.

In such mobile telephone devices, in a case in which a user intends toutilize desired address information, the user had to access an addressbook through an operation by the user himself/herself to find thedesired address information. Furthermore, as the number of itemsregistered with the address book is increased, it becomes more difficultto find desired address information.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic deviceand a method of controlling the electronic device, which are capable ofeasily utilizing address information.

Means for Solving the Problems

An electronic device according to the present invention includes: astorage unit that stores address data including names and addressinformation; an operation unit that inputs a character string; a displayunit that displays the character string that is input by operating theoperation unit, and conversion candidate character strings that areconversion candidates for the character string thus input; a searchexecution unit that searches the address data, based on the characterstring that is input by operating the operation unit; and a control unitthat controls the display unit to display names or address information,which is associated with the input character string used by the searchexecution unit for searching, as conversion candidate character strings.

It is preferable for the electronic device to further include: aselection unit that selects a conversion candidate character string; anda determination unit that determines the conversion candidate characterstring selected by the selection unit; and an address informationprocessing unit that executes processing associated with addressinformation, in which, in a case in which the selection unit selects aconversion candidate character string linked with the addressinformation, and the determination unit determines the conversioncandidate character string thus selected, it is preferable for thecontrol unit to control the address information processing unit toexecute processing associated with the address information linked withthe conversion candidate character string.

It is preferable for the electronic device to further include aninformation selection unit that selects address information, in which itis preferable for the storage unit to store address data including namesand a plurality of pieces of address information, and in a case in whichthe selection unit selects a conversion candidate character stringlinked with address information, and the determination unit determinesthe conversion candidate character string thus selected, it ispreferable for the control unit to control the display unit to display aplurality of pieces of address information linked with the conversioncandidate character string, and in a case in which the informationselection unit selects a single piece of address information, it ispreferable for the control unit to control the address informationprocessing unit to execute processing associated with the single pieceof address information.

It is preferable for the electronic device to further include: aselection unit that selects a conversion candidate character string; anda determination unit that determines the conversion candidate characterstring selected by the selection unit; and a replacement unit thatreplaces an input character string with address information, and in acase in which the selection unit selects a conversion candidatecharacter string linked with address information, and the determinationunit determines the conversion candidate character string thus selected,it is preferable for the control unit to control the replacement unit toreplace the input character string with the address information so as tobe displayed.

It is preferable for the electronic device to further include a modevariation unit that varies a mode of displaying conversion candidatecharacter strings on the display unit, between a first mode and a secondmode different from the first mode, and in a case in which a conversioncandidate character string linked with address information is displayed,it is preferable for the control unit to control the mode variation unitto display the conversion candidate character string in the second mode.

It is preferable for the electronic device to further include aplurality of processes as processing associated with the addressinformation, in which it is preferable for the control unit to controlthe mode variation unit to display conversion candidate characterstrings, which are linked with address information displayedcorrespondingly to the plurality of processes, in different modes.

In the electronic device, it is preferable for the storage unit to storeaddress data including names and registration numbers; it is preferablefor the operation unit to include a plurality of keys assigned withnon-numeric characters and numeric characters; in a case in which a keyof the operation unit is operated in a state where an initial screen isdisplayed, it is preferable for the display unit to display anon-numeric character and a numeric character assigned to the key thusoperated; and in a state where a non-numeric character string and anumeric character string are displayed on the display unit in responseto an operation of keys of the operation unit, in a case in which thenumeric character string displayed on the display unit coincides withone of the registration numbers as a result of searching by the searchexecution unit, it is preferable for the control unit to control thedisplay unit to display a name or address information associated withthe registration number.

In the electronic device, it is preferable for the storage unit to storeaddress data including names and a plurality of pieces of addressinformation; it is preferable for the operation unit to include aplurality of keys assigned with non-numeric characters and numericcharacters; in a case in which a key of the operation unit is operatedin a state where an initial screen is displayed, it is preferable forthe display unit to display a non-numeric character and a numericcharacter assigned to the key thus operated; and in a state where anon-numeric character string and a numeric character string aredisplayed on the display unit in response to an operation of keys of theoperation unit, in a case in which the numeric character stringdisplayed on the display unit coincides with address informationcomposed of a telephone number in the address data as a result ofsearching by the search execution unit, it is preferable for the controlunit to control the display unit to display a name associated with theaddress information, or another address information associated with thename.

It is preferable for the electronic device to further include: aselection unit that selects a conversion candidate character string; anda replacement unit that replaces address information with an inputnon-numeric character string or an input numeric character string, inwhich it is preferable for the operation unit to include a plurality ofkeys assigned with non-numeric characters and numeric characters; in acase in which a key of the operation unit is operated in a state wherean initial screen is displayed, it is preferable for the display unit todisplay a non-numeric character and a numeric character assigned to thekey thus operated; and in a state where a non-numeric character stringand a numeric character string are displayed on the display unit inresponse to an operation of keys of the operation unit, in a case inwhich the selection unit selects a conversion candidate character stringassociated with one of the names displayed on the display unit as aresult of searching by the search execution unit, it is preferable forthe control unit to control the replacement unit to replace the numericcharacter string displayed on the display unit with address informationcomposed of a telephone number associated with the name, and to displaythe address information.

A method of controlling an electronic device according to the presentinvention includes: a storing step of storing address data includingnames and address information; an operating step of inputting acharacter string; a displaying step of displaying the character stringthat is input in the operating step, and conversion candidate characterstrings that are conversion candidates for the character string thusinput; a search executing step of searching the address data, based onthe character string that is input in the operating step; and acontrolling step of controlling display of names or address information,which is associated with the input character string used for searchingin the search executing step, as the conversion candidate characterstrings.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, an electronic device and a method ofcontrolling the electronic device are provided, which are capable ofeasily utilizing information in an address book.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a mobile telephonedevice as an example of an electronic device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the mobiletelephone device;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a relationship of eachfunction, with which the mobile telephone device 1 achieves functionsaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a relationship between theapplications and the functions, with which the mobile telephone deviceachieves functions according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a first schematic diagram showing a screen to transition in acase of utilizing a character input function;

FIG. 6 is a second schematic diagram showing a screen to transition in acase of utilizing the character input function;

FIG. 7 is a third schematic diagram showing a screen to transition in acase of utilizing the character input function;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operations (only character inputs) of themobile telephone device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing operations (character inputs and telephonenumber inputs) of the mobile telephone device according to anembodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a fourth schematic diagram showing a screen to transition ina case of utilizing the character input function.

PREFERRED MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Descriptions are provided hereinafter regarding an embodiment of thepresent invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. Although the presentembodiment shows a mobile telephone device 1 of a so-called folder-typeas shown in FIG. 1, the mobile telephone device 1 according to thepresent invention is not particularly limited thereto. For example, thetype of the mobile telephone device may be a slider type in which one ofthe bodies slides to one direction in a state in which the bodies aremutually superimposed; a rotating (turning) type in which one of thebodies is rotated around an axis line along the direction ofsuperimposing the bodies; or a type (straight type or flip type) inwhich operation keys 11 (to be described later) and a display unit 21(to be described later) are disposed in one body without having aconnecting portion. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearanceof a mobile telephone device as an example of an electronic deviceaccording to the present invention.

The mobile telephone device 1 includes an operation unit side body 2 anda display unit side body 3. The operation unit side body 2 includes, ona front face portion 10 thereof, the operation keys 11 and a microphone12 for inputting sound produced by a user of the mobile telephone device1 during a phone call. The operation keys 11 are configured with:function setting keys 13 for various settings and for operating variousfunctions such as a telephone number directory function and a mailfunction; input operation keys 14 (an operation unit) for inputting thedigits of a telephone number and characters for mail, etc.; a selectionoperation key 15 (a selection unit, an information selection unit) forperforming scrolling (selection); and a determination operation key 16(a determination unit) for performing determination in variousoperations.

The display unit side body 3 includes, on a front face portion 20, thedisplay unit 21 for displaying a variety of information, and a speaker22 for outputting sound of the other party during a telephone call.

An upper end portion of the operation unit side body 2 and a lower endportion of the display unit side body 3 are connected via a hingemechanism 4. The mobile telephone device 1 can be in a state where theoperation unit side body 2 and the display unit side body 3 are apartfrom each other (opened state), and in a state where the operation unitside body 2 and the display unit side body 3 are contacting each other(folded state), as the operation unit side body 2 and the display unitside body 3, connected via the hinge mechanism 4, pivot with respect toeach other.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the mobiletelephone device 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile telephone device 1includes: the operation keys 11, the microphone 12, a main antenna 40,an RF circuit unit 41, an image processing unit 42, a sound processingunit 43, memory 44 (a storage unit), a control unit 45, the display unit21, the speaker 22, and a driver IC 23.

The memory 44 has a buffer area, a conversion database (hereinafterreferred to as a conversion DB), and an address book DB (hereinafterreferred to as an address book DB). The conversion DB stores dictionaryinformation and information on usage history regarding the pastconversion. The conversion DB is configured such that, when all or partof a predetermined input character string is input as search keywords,the conversion DB can extract associated information as a conversioncandidate character string.

The address book DB stores an address book, in which a plurality ofpieces of data are registered with the address book, in which addressinformation associated with a name is a single record. The address bookDB is configured such that, when all or part of a predetermined inputcharacter string is input, or search keywords predicted from a part ofthe predetermined input character string are input, the address book DBcan extract associated data. A unique registration number is assigned toa record registered with the address book, and it is possible to searchfor a record associated with a registration number as a search keyword.

When a predetermined input character string is extracted from theconversion DB and the address book DB, the mobile telephone device 1performs a search to extract all or part of the character string, or apart of the character string coinciding with a search keyword, asconversion candidate character strings. For example, when an inputcharacter string “suzuki” in hiragana characters is input, the mobiletelephone device 1 extracts “suzuki” in kanji characters, “suzuki” inkatakana characters and the like as conversion candidate characterstrings. When performing a search to extract conversion candidatecharacter strings by performing prediction based on a part of a searchkeyword, for example, in a case in which an input character string “su”in a hiragana character is input, the mobile telephone device 1 predictscharacter strings to be input after “su”, and extracts “suzuki” in kanjicharacters, “suzuki” in katakana characters and the like as conversioncandidate character strings. In a case in which a plurality ofconversion candidate character strings can be extracted, the mobiletelephone device 1 extracts such character strings as conversioncandidate character strings by considering usage history, attributes(for example, DB used for extraction) and the like. In the presentembodiment, the mobile telephone device 1 extracts character stringsregistered with the address book DB as conversion candidate characterstrings.

Here, names (name information) are data configured with, for example, apersonal name composed of a full name, a company name, a facility nameand the like, and all or part of, or characters predicted from a partof, a predetermined pronunciation of a name, spelling of a name, addressinformation in an identical record can be searched for as searchkeywords. Regarding the names, a personal name is configured such that,for example, a family name or a first name thereof can be searched for.

The address information is data configured with, for example, atelephone number, an email address, a web address, a postal address andthe like, in which spelling and a predetermined pronunciation associatedwith a name in an identical record can be searched for as searchkeywords.

An input character string is configured with a single or a plurality ofnon-numeric characters, numeric characters or symbols, and is input byoperating the operation keys 11. A conversion candidate character stringis configured with a single or a plurality of non-numeric characters,numeric characters or symbols associated with an input character string.A determined character string is configured with a single or a pluralityof non-numeric characters, numeric characters or symbols determined fromamong conversion candidate character strings.

The memory 44 includes, for example, working memory, and is utilized forarithmetic processing by the control unit 45. The memory 44 stores aplurality of applications, as well as a variety of tables and the likerequired by the applications.

As shown in FIG. 4, the memory 44 stores a variety of applications (inthe present embodiment, an address book application A1, an emailapplication A2, a telephone application A3, a browser application A4, ascheduler application A5, a memo application A6, and a character inputapplication A7). FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing arelationship between the applications and functions, with which themobile telephone device 1 achieves functions according to an embodiment.

The address book application A1 is linked with the address book so as tobe capable of utilizing the address book, and can extract a desired nameor address information or the like associated with a record, by using apronunciation and the like as search keywords for searching the addressbook. By designating address information thus extracted, the addressbook application A1 can execute processing (for example, processing fora telephone call, email, browsing and the like) associated with theaddress information.

The email application A2 is an application configured to be capable ofexecuting processing regarding email, such as creating, browsing,transmitting or receiving email. The email application A2 is configuredto be capable of being linked with the address book for inputting adestination address and the like of email.

The telephone application A3 is an application configured to be capableof executing processing regarding outgoing/incoming telephone calls. Thetelephone application A3 is configured to be capable of being linkedwith the address book for designating an outgoing call, displayinginformation regarding an incoming call, and the like. The telephoneapplication A3 is a resident application that is running even in astandby state.

The browser application A4 is an application configured to be capable ofbrowsing a web page and the like associated with a predeterminedaddress. The browser application A4 is configured to be capable of beinglinked with the address book for designating an address and the like.

The scheduler application A5 is an application liked with a calendar tomanage registered schedules. The scheduler application A5 can search theregistered schedules for a desired schedule by using scheduleinformation such as scheduled date/time and a schedule number askeywords. The scheduler application A5 can provide notification of aregistered schedule on a predetermined date and time.

The memo application A6 is an application that can register text data,and manage each memo. The memo application A6 can search for a desiredmemo by using a number assigned to a memo and text registered with amemo as search keywords.

The character input application A7 is an application configured todisplay an input from the operation keys 11, and to develop the input ona variety of applications. When any one of the input operation keys 14is operated in a wallpaper screen (an initial screen), the characterinput application A7 can display a non-numeric character, a numericcharacter or a symbol assigned to the input operation key 14, accordingto the setting. The character input application A7 is configured to becapable of concurrently displaying a plurality of non-numericcharacters, numeric characters or symbols assigned to the inputoperation keys 14, according to the setting. The wallpaper screen (theinitial screen) is a screen that is displayed while waiting for anincoming call, and while waiting for activation or operation of anapplication.

The operation keys 11 are configured with the function setting keys 13,the input operation keys 14, the selection operation key 15, and thedetermination operation key 16. The function setting keys 13 are keysconfigured to be capable of executing predetermined functions. The inputoperation keys 14 are keys for performing a variety of inputs such asnon-numeric character inputs and numeric character inputs. The selectionoperation key 15 is a key for performing selection from among aplurality of candidates. The determination operation key 16 is a key forexecuting (determining) a selected function. A predetermined function isassigned to each of the operation keys 11 (the function setting keys 13,the input operation keys 14, the selection operation key 15, and thedetermination operation key 16), essentially in accordance with anapplication that is currently activated.

The main antenna 40 is configured to communicate with external devicessuch as base stations via a predetermined usable frequency band (forexample, 800 MHz band). Although 800 MHz is set as the predeterminedusable frequency band in the present embodiment, other frequency bandscan also be used.

The RF circuit unit 41 executes demodulation processing on a signalreceived via the main antenna 40, and transmits the processed signal tothe control unit 45. The RF circuit unit 41 executes modulationprocessing on the signal transmitted from the control unit 45, andtransmits the signal to external devices via the main antenna 40. On theother hand, the RF circuit unit 41 notifies the control unit 45 of theintensity of a signal received via the main antenna 40.

The image processing unit 42 executes predetermined image processing,and outputs the processed image data to the driver IC 23, according tocontrol by the control unit 45. When the image data is transmitted fromthe image processing unit 42, the driver IC 23 stores the image data inframe memory, and outputs the image data on the display unit 21 atpredetermined timing.

The sound processing unit 43 executes predetermined sound processing ona signal transmitted from the RF circuit unit 41 in accordance withcontrol by the control unit 45, and outputs the processed signal to thespeaker 22. The speaker 22 externally outputs the signal that istransmitted from the sound processing unit 43.

When a signal is input from the microphone 12, the sound processing unit43 processes the signal, and outputs the processed signal to the RFcircuit unit 41, in accordance with control by the control unit 45. TheRF circuit unit 41 executes predetermined processing on the signaltransmitted from the sound processing unit 43, and outputs the processedsignal to the main antenna 40.

The control unit 45 controls the entirety of the mobile telephone device1, and is configured by employing a central processing unit (CPU) andthe like.

The mobile telephone device 1 with such a configuration has a functioncapable of utilizing address information, in which conversion candidatecharacter strings are based on an input character string.

Descriptions are hereinafter provided for a configuration for achievingthe aforementioned function according to the mobile telephone device 1with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagramshowing a relationship of each function, with which the mobile telephonedevice 1 achieves functions according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is afirst schematic diagram showing a screen to transition in a case ofutilizing a character input function. FIG. 6 is a second schematicdiagram showing a screen to transition in a case of utilizing thecharacter input function. FIG. 7 is a third schematic diagram showing ascreen to transition in a case of utilizing the character inputfunction.

The mobile telephone device 1 includes the memory 44 (the storage unit),the input operation keys 14 (the operation unit), the display unit 21, asearch execution unit 46, and the control unit 45. The memory 44 (thestorage unit) stores the address book including names and addressinformation. The input operation keys 14 (the operation unit) areconfigured to be capable of inputting a character string. The displayunit 21 displays an input character string that is input by operatingthe input operation keys 14 (the operation unit), and conversioncandidate character strings that are conversion candidates for the inputcharacter string. The search execution unit 46 searches the addressbook, based on the input character string that is input by operating theinput operation keys 14 (the operation unit). The control unit 45controls the display unit 21 to display names or address information,which is associated with the input character string used by the searchexecution unit 46 for searching, as conversion candidate characterstrings.

In the mobile telephone device 1 with such a configuration, as a resultof operating the input operation keys 14 (the operation unit) to input acharacter string, the search execution unit 46 searches the addressbook, based on the input character string thus input. In the mobiletelephone device 1, the control unit 45 controls the display unit 21 todisplay names or address information, which is associated with the inputcharacter string used by the search execution unit 46 for searching, asconversion candidate character strings.

In a case in which the address book is searched for address informationassociated with the input character string, for example, as shown inFIG. 5 b (to be describing later), the mobile telephone device 1displays conversion candidate character strings in an area fordisplaying conversion candidates. As a result, by selecting a conversioncandidate character string, the mobile telephone device 1 replaces theinput character string with the conversion candidate character string.

Therefore, based on the input character string, the mobile telephonedevice 1 can utilize information (names or address information) in theaddress book as conversion candidate character strings.

Simply by inputting a character string, the mobile telephone device 1displays information in the address book as conversion candidatecharacter strings. Accordingly, the mobile telephone device 1 can easilyutilize information registered with the address book, and can improvethe convenience.

For example, even in a case in which the address book is desired to bereferred to while creating email text, the mobile telephone device 1does not require an operation such as suspending creation of email textand separately searching the address book. As a result, the creation ofemail text is not suspended, and the operational feeling for the user isnot impaired.

Since the mobile telephone device 1 displays information in the addressbook as conversion candidates for the input character string, the userdoes not feel discomfort in utilizing information in the address book.

The mobile telephone device 1 includes the selection operation key 15(the selection unit), the determination operation key 16 (thedetermination unit), and an address information processing unit 47. Theselection operation key 15 (the selection unit) selects a conversioncandidate character string. The determination operation key 16 (thedetermination unit) determines the conversion candidate character stringselected by the selection operation key 15 (the selection unit). Theaddress information processing unit 47 executes processing linked withaddress information. Ina case in which the selection operation key 15(the selection unit) selects a conversion candidate character stringassociated with the address information, and the determination operationkey 16 (the determination unit) determines the conversion candidatecharacter string thus selected, the control unit 45 controls the addressinformation processing unit 47 to execute processing associated with theaddress information linked with the conversion candidate characterstring.

The processing associated with the address information is, for example,processing of activating a predetermined application associated with anattribute of the address information. In the processing associated withaddress information, for example, address information including “@” istreated as an email address, and email text is created by designatingthe email address (the address information) as a destination. Addressinformation as a numeric character string with a predetermined number ofdigits is treated as a telephone number, and an outgoing call is made tothe telephone number by designating the telephone number (the addressinformation) as a destination. Address information including “www” istreated as a web address, and a web page is browsed and displayed bydesignating the web address (the address information).

In the mobile telephone device 1 with such a configuration, theselection operation key 15 (selection unit) is operated to select aconversion candidate character string linked with address information,and the determination operation key 16 (the determination unit) isoperated to determine the conversion candidate character string thusselected. In this case, the control unit 45 controls the addressinformation processing unit 47 to execute processing associated with theaddress information linked with the conversion candidate characterstring. In the mobile telephone device 1, for example, when a conversioncandidate character string associated with an email address isdetermined, the email application A2 is activated to display a screenfor creating email text with the email address as a destination.

Therefore, since the mobile telephone device 1 executes processing suchas activating an application associated with address information byselecting and determining a conversion candidate character string, theconvenience is improved.

Even while operating a predetermined application capable of inputtingcharacters, the mobile telephone device 1 can execute otherapplications; therefore, the user can enjoy an operational feeling as ifsimultaneously operating a plurality of applications, in spite of usinga single application.

Since the mobile telephone device 1 executes processing of otherapplications while operating an application for inputting characters,the mobile telephone device 1 does not require an operation such assuspending a running application to separately activate anotherapplication; therefore, the user can enjoy a smooth operational feeling.

The mobile telephone device 1 includes the selection operation key 15(the information selection unit). The selection operation key 15 (theinformation selection unit) selects address information. The memory 44(the storage unit) stores the address book including names and aplurality of pieces of address information. Ina case in which theselection operation key 15 (the selection unit) selects a conversioncandidate character string linked with address information, and thedetermination operation key 16 (the determination unit) determines theconversion candidate character string thus selected, the control unit 45controls the display unit 21 to display a plurality of pieces of addressinformation linked with the conversion candidate character string; andin a case in which the selection operation key 15 (the informationselection unit) selects a single piece of address information, thecontrol unit 45 controls the address information processing unit 47 toexecute processing associated with the single piece of addressinformation.

In a case in which a conversion candidate character string is selectedand determined, the mobile telephone device 1 with such a configurationdisplays related address information on the display unit 21. In themobile telephone device 1, in a case in which a single piece of addressinformation is selected from among a plurality of pieces of addressinformation displayed, the control unit 45 controls the addressinformation processing unit 47 to execute processing associated with thesingle piece of address information. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 e(to be described later), the mobile telephone device 1 displays aplurality of telephone numbers associated with a conversion candidatecharacter string. The plurality of pieces of address information may bea telephone number and an email address.

Therefore, the mobile telephone device 1 can be utilized even in a casein which a conversion candidate character string is associated with aplurality of pieces of address information.

The mobile telephone device 1 includes the selection operation key 15(the selection unit), the determination operation key 16 (thedetermination unit), and a replacement unit 48. The selection operationkey 15 (the selection unit) selects a conversion candidate characterstring. The determination operation key 16 (the determination unit)determines the conversion candidate character string selected by theselection operation key 15 (the selection unit). The replacement unit 48replaces an input character string with address information. In a casein which the selection operation key 15 (the selection unit) selects aconversion candidate character string linked with address information,and the determination operation key 16 (the determination unit)determines the conversion candidate character string thus selected, thecontrol unit 45 controls the replacement unit 48 to replace the inputcharacter string with the address information so as to be displayed.

In the mobile telephone device 1 with such a configuration, theselection operation key 15 (the selection unit) selects a conversioncandidate character string linked with the address information, and thedetermination operation key 16 (the determination unit) determines theconversion candidate character string thus selected. In this case, inthe mobile telephone device 1, the control unit 45 controls thereplacement unit 48 to replace the input character string with theaddress information so as to be displayed. For example, in a case inwhich the mobile telephone device 1 determines a conversion candidatecharacter string association with address information, then a namedisplayed as a conversion candidate character string is not determined,but is replaced with address information (an email address or the like)associated with the conversion candidate character string, and theaddress information is displayed as a determined character string.

Therefore, since an input character string is replaced with addressinformation by selecting and determining a conversion candidatecharacter string linked with address information, the mobile telephonedevice 1 can utilize address information as character information. As aresult, in the mobile telephone device 1, for example, in a case inwhich an email address is desired to be described in email text for thepurpose of reporting the email address to the other party, it is notnecessary to take note of address information when creating email text.The mobile telephone device 1 can utilize address information ascharacter information, and can improve the convenience.

The mobile telephone device 1 includes a mode variation unit 49. Themode variation unit 49 varies a mode of displaying conversion candidatecharacter strings on the display unit 21, between an ordinary displaymode (a first mode) and another display mode (a second mode) differentfrom the ordinary display mode (the first mode). In a case in which aconversion candidate character string linked with address information isdisplayed, the control unit 45 controls the mode variation unit 49 todisplay the conversion candidate character string in a mode (the secondmode) different from the ordinary mode.

In the mobile telephone device 1 with such a configuration, in a case inwhich a conversion candidate character string linked with addressinformation is displayed, the control unit 45 controls the modevariation unit 49 to perform display in a mode different from theordinary display. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 b (to be describedlater), the mobile telephone device 1 displays a name with an icon imageschematically representing the address book.

Therefore, in a case in which a conversion candidate character stringlinked with address information is displayed, the mobile telephonedevice 1 displays the conversion candidate character string in a modedifferent from the ordinary display; accordingly, whether a characterstring is a conversion candidate character string linked with addressinformation can be easily determined, and the convenience can beimproved. The different mode may not use an icon image, but may use adifferent color or font.

The mobile telephone device 1 has a plurality of processes as processingassociated with address information. Examples of the plurality ofprocesses include making an outgoing call, creating email text, anddisplaying a browser. The control unit 45 controls the mode variationunit 49 to display conversion candidate character strings, which arelinked with address information displayed correspondingly to theplurality of processes, in different modes.

In the mobile telephone device 1 with such a configuration, the controlunit 45 controls the mode variation unit 49 to display conversioncandidate character strings, which are linked with address informationdisplayed correspondingly to the plurality of processes, in differentmodes. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 b (to be described later), themobile telephone device 1 displays a name with an image schematicallyrepresenting a telephone receiver in a case in which the addressinformation is a telephone number, or an image schematicallyrepresenting email in a case in which the address information is anemail address. The different mode may not use an icon image, but may usea different color or font.

Therefore, the mobile telephone device 1 displays conversion candidatecharacter strings in different modes depending on the processing;accordingly, for example, by varying the display mode by using images orthe like, it is possible to determine which processing can be executedfor a conversion candidate character string being address information,and the convenience can be improved.

The memory 44 (the storage unit) stores the address book including namesand registration numbers. The input operation keys 14 (the operationunit) include a plurality of keys assigned with non-numeric charactersand numeric characters. In a case in which a key of the operation unitis operated in a state where the initial screen is displayed, thedisplay unit 21 displays a non-numeric character and a numeric characterassigned to the key thus operated. In response to the operation of theinput operation keys 14 (the operation unit), the control unit 45controls the display unit 21 to display a non-numeric character stringand a numeric character string. As a result of searching by the searchexecution unit 46, in a case in which the numeric character stringdisplayed on the display unit 21 coincides with a registration number,the control unit 45 controls the display unit 21 to display a name oraddress information associated with the registration number.

As a result of operating a key of the input operation keys 14 (theoperation unit), the mobile telephone device 1 with such a configurationtransitions from the state where the initial screen is displayed on thedisplay unit 21, to a state where a non-numeric character string and anumeric character string, which correspond to the operation, aredisplayed on the display unit 21. As a result of searching by the searchexecution unit 46, in a case in which the numeric character stringdisplayed on the display unit 21 coincides with a registration number,the control unit 45 controls the display unit 21 to display a name oraddress information associated with the registration number. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 7 c (to be described later), in a case inwhich a numeric character “1” is input into the mobile telephone device1, and a conversion candidate character string associated with addressinformation with a registration number “1” is selected, a telephonenumber associated with the registration number “1” is displayed in atelephone number display area 103. When the determination operation key16 or the like of the mobile telephone device 1 is operated, an outgoingcall is made to the telephone number thus displayed.

The mobile telephone device 1 can display a name or address information,also based on a registration number associated with the name or addressinformation. For example, in a case in which a registration number of apersonal name “Suzuki” (in kanji characters) is “1”, when the addressbook is ordinarily searched, a character string “suzuki” (in hiraganacharacters) associated with its pronunciation is required to be input(in which the user operates the input operation keys 14 eight times intotal such as “333333*2”). However, only the numeric character “1” asthe registration number is required to be input; therefore, the inputoperation can be simplified (“1” is displayed, and the user operates thekey “1” of the input operation keys 14 once).

The memory 44 (the storage unit) stores the address book, in which namesand a plurality of pieces of address information are associated with oneanother. The input operation keys 14 (the operation unit) have aplurality of keys assigned with non-numeric characters and numericcharacters. In a case in which a key of the input operation keys 14 (theoperation unit) is operated in a state where the initial screen isdisplayed, the display unit 21 displays a non-numeric character and anumeric character assigned to the key thus operated. In response to theoperation of the input operation keys 14 (the operation unit), thecontrol unit 45 controls the display unit 21 to display a non-numericcharacter string and a numeric character string. As a result ofsearching by the search execution unit 46, in a case in which thenumeric character string displayed on the display unit 21 coincides withaddress information composed of a telephone number registered with theaddress book DB, the control unit 45 controls the display unit 21 todisplay a name associated with the address information, or anotheraddress information associated with the name.

In response to the operation of the input operation keys 14 (theoperation unit), the mobile telephone device 1 with such a configurationenters a state where a non-numeric character string and a numericcharacter string are displayed on the display unit 21. As a result ofsearching by the search execution unit 46, in a case in which thenumeric character string coincides with address information composed ofa telephone number registered with the address book, the control unit 45controls the display unit 21 to display a name associated with theaddress information, or another address information associated with thename. Such a coincidence may not be perfect matching, but may includepartial matching as well. For example, when the input operation keys 14of the mobile telephone device 1 are operated in the wallpaper screen, atelephone number associated with the input character string isdisplayed. When the determination operation key 16 or the like of themobile telephone device 1 is operated, an outgoing call is made to thetelephone number thus displayed.

Therefore, in a case in which there is a telephone number associatedwith a numeric character string that is input in the initial screen bythe input operation keys 14, the mobile telephone device 1 displays anassociated telephone number. As a result, since an operation such as,for example, activating the telephone application A3 or the like is notrequired in the mobile telephone device 1, an outgoing call can beeasily made, and the convenience can be improved.

The mobile telephone device 1 includes the selection operation key 15(the selection unit) and the replacement unit 48. The selectionoperation key 15 (the selection unit) selects a conversion candidatecharacter string. The replacement unit 48 replaces address informationwith an input non-numeric character string or an input numeric characterstring. The input operation keys 14 (the operation unit) include aplurality of keys assigned with non-numeric characters and numericcharacters. In a case in which a key of the input operation keys 14 isoperated in a state where the initial screen is displayed, the displayunit 21 displays a non-numeric character and a numeric characterassigned to the key thus operated. In response to the operation of theinput operation keys 14 (the operation unit), the control unit 45controls the display unit 21 to display a non-numeric character stringand a numeric character string. As a result of searching by the searchexecution unit 46, in a case in which the selection operation key 15(the selection unit) selects a conversion candidate character stringassociated with a name displayed on the display unit 21, the controlunit 45 controls the replacement unit 48 to replace the numericcharacter string displayed on the display unit 21 with addressinformation composed of a telephone number associated with the name, andto display the address information.

In response to the operation of the input operation keys 14 (theoperation unit), the mobile telephone device 1 with such a configurationenters a state where a non-numeric character string and a numericcharacter string are concurrently displayed on the display unit 21. As aresult of searching by the search execution unit 46, in a case in whichthe selection operation key 15 (the selection unit) selects a conversioncandidate character string associated with a name displayed on thedisplay unit 21, the control unit 45 controls the replacement unit 48 toreplace the numeric character string displayed on the display unit 21with address information composed of a telephone number associated withthe name, and to display the address information. For example, as shownin FIG. 7 c (to be described later), by selecting a conversion candidatecharacter string associated with a telephone number registered with theaddress book, the mobile telephone device 1 displays the telephonenumber associated with the conversion candidate character string inplace of the numeric character string, in the telephone number displayarea 103. In a case in which another conversion candidate characterstring is selected, an input numeric character string is displayed.

In a case in which a conversion candidate character string associatedwith a name registered with the address book is selected, the mobiletelephone device 1 replaces the numeric character string displayed onthe display unit 21 with a telephone number so as to be displayed;therefore, a telephone number as a conversion candidate character stringcan be displayed for the user. As a result, the user can confirm thetelephone number associated with the conversion candidate characterstring to make an outgoing call to the telephone number, and theconvenience can be improved.

Next, descriptions are provided for operations of the mobile telephonedevice 1 according to the present embodiment with reference to eachscreen transition diagram shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 and a flowchart shown inFIG. 8. FIG. 8 is the flowchart showing operations (only characterinputs) of the mobile telephone device according to an embodiment. InFIG. 5, keys are operated in the initial screen (see FIG. 5 a), andbased on such an operation, the screen transitions to a screen in whicha non-numeric character string “suzuki” (in hiragana characters) and anumeric character string “333333*22” have been input (see FIG. 5 b).Subsequently, when a personal name “Ichiro Suzuki” registered with theaddress book is selected in a conversion candidate display area 102, thescreen transitions to a screen in which the personal name has beendetermined (see FIG. 5 c). Subsequently, when a predetermined icondisplayed in the character display area 101 is selected, the screentransitions to a screen displaying a pop-up menu from which acombination of “call” “Ichiro Suzuki” or the like can be selected (seeFIG. 5 d). Subsequently, when “call” is selected from the pop-up menu,the screen transitions to a screen as shown in FIG. 5 e. FIG. 5 eassumes a case in which two telephone numbers are registered. In FIG. 6,keys are operated in the initial screen (see FIG. 6 a), and based onsuch an operation, the screen transitions to a screen in which anon-numeric character string “suzuki” (in hiragana characters) and anumeric character string “333333*22” have been input (see FIG. 6 b).Subsequently, when the personal name “Ichiro Suzuki” registered with theaddress book is selected and determined in the conversion candidatedisplay area 102, the screen transitions to a screen in which functionaloperations for the personal name “Ichiro Suzuki” can be selected (seeFIG. 6 c). Displaying conversion candidate character strings in ahighlighted manner in the conversion candidate display area 102 in FIG.6 b indicates that such conversion candidate character strings areregistered with the address book. In FIG. 7, keys are operated in theinitial screen (see FIG. 7 a), and based on such an operation, thescreen transitions to a screen in which a non-numeric character string“suzuki” (in hiragana characters) and a numeric character string“333333*22” have been input (see FIG. 7 b). Subsequently, when thepersonal name “Ichiro Suzuki” linked with the address book is selectedin the conversion candidate display area 102, the screen transitions toa screen in which a telephone number associated with “Ichiro Suzuki” isdisplayed in the telephone number display area 103.

In Step S1, the control unit 45 activates (starts looping of) thecharacter input application A7, and the processing advances to Step S2.More specifically, for example, the control unit 45 activates thecharacter input application A7 when the mobile telephone device 1 isactivated. As shown in FIG. 5 a, by activating the character inputapplication A7, and operating the input operation keys 14 in a standbystate, the mobile telephone device 1 enters a state where a variety ofprocessing is possible. The processing in Steps S1 to S10 is loopeduntil the character input application A7 is terminated.

In Step S2, a key input is performed by the input operation keys 14, andthe processing advances to Step S3. More specifically, a key input (aninput of a character string) is performed by the input operation keys14, and the control unit 45 accepts the key input from the inputoperation keys 14. As shown in FIG. 5 b, by accepting the key input inStep S2, the control unit 45 controls the display unit 21 to display anon-numeric character string “suzuki” (in hiragana characters)corresponding to the key input in the character display area 101 of thescreen 100, and to display a numeric character string including a symbol“333333*22” corresponding to the key input in the telephone numberdisplay area 103 of the screen 100.

In Step S3, the control unit 45 performs determination of the key input,and the processing advances to Step S4. More specifically, the controlunit 45 determines whether the key input from the input operation keys14 is an input of characters (a character input), or is an input forselecting a candidate (ordinary candidate (conversion candidate,predictive candidate), address book candidate). In a case in which theinput is a character input, the processing advances to Step S6. In acase in which the input is determined to be an input for selecting acandidate (the candidate is selected), the processing advances to StepS4.

In Step S4, the control unit 45 determines whether the candidate thusselected is an ordinary candidate (conversion candidate or predictivecandidate) or an address book candidate. In a case in which thecandidate is determined to be an ordinary candidate (an ordinarypredictive candidate), the processing advances to Step S6. In a case inwhich the candidate is determined to be an address book candidate, theprocessing advances to Step S5-1.

In Step S5-1, the control unit 45 controls the display unit 21 todisplay a list of functions linked with the address book, and theprocessing advances to Step S5-2. More specifically, the control unit 45controls the display unit 21 to display a list of application functionsthat can be executed by using the address information associated withthe conversion candidate character string thus selected.

As shown in FIG. 5 c, in the mobile telephone device 1, in a case inwhich the conversion candidate character string “Ichiro Suzuki”associated with the address information is selected and determined fromamong conversion candidate character strings displayed in the conversioncandidate display area 102 of the screen 100, a list of applications tobe executed correspondingly to the address information is separatelydisplayed, as shown in FIG. 5 d. In a case in which there are not aplurality of pieces of processing associated with the addressinformation, the control unit 45 may control the address informationprocessing unit 47 to execute a single piece of processing associatedwith the address information without displaying the processing. Althougha list of applications is displayed as a list of processing associatedwith address information in the present embodiment, it is not limitedthereto. The list of applications may be displayed as, for example, alist of all the processing that can be executed by the mobile telephonedevice 1, in which processing not associated with address information isdisplayed but not selectable.

In Step S5-2, the control unit 45 determines whether the input is forselecting a character input candidate or for selecting a function. Morespecifically, as shown in FIG. 5 d, the display unit 21 displaysselectable functions. A predetermined function is selected from amongthe selectable functions (for example, telephone, email, and SMS email);alternatively, a character input candidate is selected by thedetermination operation key 16 or the like, without selecting afunction. Based on such a selection, the control unit 45 determineswhether the input is for selecting a character input candidate or forselecting a function. In a case in which the control unit 45 determinesthat a character input candidate will be selected (character inputcandidate selection), the processing advances to Step S6. In a case inwhich the control unit 45 determines that a function will be selected(function selection), the processing advances to Step S5-3.

In Step S5-3, the control unit 45 executes the function linked with theaddress book, and the processing is terminated. More specifically, basedon the function selected in Step S5-2, the control unit 45 controls theaddress information processing unit 47 to execute (process) thefunction. In doing so, as shown in FIG. 5 e, in a case in which thereare a plurality of pieces of address information (telephone numbers)associated with the selected function (a displayed item “call” formaking an outgoing call by executing the telephone application A3), thecontrol unit 45 controls the display unit 21 to further display a listof the plurality of pieces of address information. In a case in which asingle piece of address information (for example, “09012345678”) isselected from among the plurality of pieces of address information, thecontrol unit 45 controls the address information processing unit 47 toexecute the processing (an outgoing call) for the selected addressinformation (“09012345678”).

In the present embodiment, in a case in which there are a plurality ofpieces of address information associated with a selected application tobe executed, the plurality of pieces of address information areseparately displayed as shown in FIG. 5 e, but it is not limitedthereto. For example, by prioritizing the processing for addressinformation that is considered to be frequently used (for example,address information in higher rank of registration), for example, theprioritized processing may be executed without performing selection.

In Step S6, the control unit 45 adds characters to a character inputbuffer, and the processing advances to Step S7. More specifically, sincethe input was determined to be a character input in Steps S3, S4 andS5-2, the control unit 45 adds characters associated with the inputcharacter string to the character input buffer of the memory 44. Sincethe processing in Step S3 is for determining an input character stringas a determined character string, the determined character string isdisplayed in the character display area 101 of the screen 100, withoutexecuting the following processing.

In Step S7, the control unit 45 searches the conversion DB, and theprocessing advances to Step S8. More specifically, in a case in which anordinary candidate is selected in Step S4, the control unit 45 controlsthe search execution unit 46 to search the conversion DB to extractconversion candidates or predictive candidates for the character stringretained in the input character buffer.

In Step S8, the control unit 45 searches the address book DB, and theprocessing advances to Step S9. More specifically, in a case in which acharacter input candidate is selected in Step S5-2, the control unit 45controls the search execution unit 46 to search the conversion DB toextract address book candidates for the character string retained in theinput character buffer.

The search execution unit 46 searches the address book DB by using theinput character string as a search keyword. In doing so, the search isperformed for information registered as records in the address book (forexample, names, email addresses, telephone numbers, postal addresses,and web addresses). Information coinciding with the registeredinformation is retrieved, and a name in a record identical to thecoinciding information will be displayed later as a conversion candidatecharacter string.

In Step S9, the control unit 45 controls the display unit 21 to displayconversion candidates, and the processing advances to Step S10. Morespecifically, as shown in FIG. 5 b, the control unit 45 controls thedisplay unit 21 to display the conversion candidates or the predictivecandidates extracted in Step S7 in the conversion candidate display area102 of the screen 100 (“Suzuki” and the like displayed in the conversioncandidate display area 102 as shown in FIG. 5 b). The control unit 45controls the display unit 21 to display the address book candidatesextracted in Step S8 in the conversion candidate display area 102 of thescreen 100 (“Ichiro Suzuki” and “Jiro Suzuki” displayed in theconversion candidate display area 102 as shown in FIG. 5 b).

As shown in FIG. 6 b, the conversion candidate character stringsassociated with the address information can be displayed differentlyfrom the other conversion candidate character strings. In FIG. 6 b, theconversion candidate character strings displayed in a highlighted mannerin the conversion candidate display area 102 are associated with theaddress information.

In Step S10, the control unit 45 terminates the character inputapplication A7, and the processing is terminated. More specifically,based on the displaying of the selected conversion candidate characterstring or the displaying of the text of the associated addressinformation, the control unit 45 determines the selected conversioncandidate character string as determined characters, and controls thedisplay unit 21 to display the determined characters.

In doing so, by operating a specific key of the function setting keys 13and the like when a conversion candidate character string is determined,the mobile telephone device 1 may display a selection screen for avariety of searches (internet, keyword, transfer information, map,email, and email text) as shown in FIG. 6 c. In a case in which aconversion candidate character string associated with the addressinformation is operated by a specific key of the function setting keys13 and the like, as shown in a dashed dotted line in FIG. 6 c, inaddition to the variety of searches, processing associated with theaddress information may also be displayed in the selection screen.

In Step S10, in a case in which the control unit 45 does not terminatethe character input application A7, the processing returns to Step S2.

In this way, the mobile telephone device 1 can utilize addressinformation, based on an input character string.

Next, with reference to each screen transition diagram shown in FIGS. 5to 7 and a flowchart shown in FIG. 9, descriptions are provided foroperations of the mobile telephone device 1 in an embodiment in whichthe character input application A7 is running in the standby state, andsearch results corresponding to an input key are concurrently displayedon the screen (in the character display area and the telephone numberdisplay area). FIG. 9 is the flowchart showing operations (characterinputs and telephone number inputs) of the mobile telephone deviceaccording to an embodiment.

In Step S21, the control unit 45 activates (starts looping of) thecharacter input application A7, and the processing advances to Step S22.More specifically, for example, the control unit 45 activates thecharacter input application A7 when the mobile telephone device 1 isactivated. In the mobile telephone device 1 of the present embodiment,the character input application A7 is activated and resident when themobile telephone device 1 is activated. The character input applicationA7 is configured to be activated when the mobile telephone device 1 isactivated in the present embodiment, but the character input applicationA7 is not limited thereto, and may be configured to be activated, forexample, when the operation keys 11 are operated to input characters orthe like after the mobile telephone device 1 is activated.

As shown in FIG. 5 a, by activating the character input application A7when the mobile telephone device 1 is activated, and operating the inputoperation keys 14 in a standby state, the mobile telephone device 1enters a state where a variety of processing is possible. The processingin Steps S21 to S30 is looped until the character input application A7is terminated.

In Step S22, a key input is performed by the input operation keys 14,and the processing advances to Step S23. More specifically, a key input(an input of a character string) is performed by the input operationkeys 14, and the control unit 45 accepts the key input from the inputoperation keys 14. As shown in FIG. 5 b, by accepting the key input inStep S22, the control unit 45 controls the display unit 21 to display anon-numeric character string “suzuki” (in hiragana characters)corresponding to the key input in the character display area 101 of thescreen 100, and to display a numeric character string including a symbol“333333*22” corresponding to the key input in the telephone numberdisplay area 103 of the screen 100.

In Step S23, the control unit 45 performs determination of the keyinput, and the processing advances to Step S24. More specifically, thecontrol unit 45 determines whether the key input is an input ofcharacters (a character input), or is an input for selecting a candidate(ordinary candidate (conversion candidate, predictive candidate),address book candidate). In a case in which the input is a characterinput, the processing advances to Step S26. In a case in which the inputis determined to be an input for selecting a candidate (the candidate isselected), the processing advances to Step S24.

In Step S24, the control unit 45 determines whether the candidate thusselected is an ordinary candidate (conversion candidate or predictivecandidate) or an address book candidate. In a case in which thecandidate is determined to be an ordinary candidate (an ordinarypredictive candidate), the processing advances to Step S26. In a case inwhich the candidate is determined to be an address book candidate, theprocessing advances to Step S25-1.

In Step S25-1, the control unit 45 controls the display unit 21 todisplay a list of functions linked with the address book, and theprocessing advances to Step S25-2. More specifically, the control unit45 controls the display unit 21 to display a list of functions ofapplications that can be executed by using the address informationassociated with the conversion candidate character string thus selected.

As shown in FIG. 5 b, in the mobile telephone device 1, in a case inwhich the conversion candidate character string “Ichiro Suzuki”associated with the address information is selected and determined fromamong the conversion candidate character strings displayed in theconversion candidate display area 102 of the screen 100, a list ofapplications to be executed correspondingly to the address informationis separately displayed, as shown in FIG. 5 d. In a case in which thereare not a plurality of pieces of processing associated with the addressinformation, the control unit 45 may control the address informationprocessing unit 47 to execute a single piece of processing associatedwith the address information without displaying the processing. Althoughthe list of applications is displayed as a list of processing associatedwith address information in the present embodiment, it is not limitedthereto. The list of applications may be displayed as, for example, alist of all the processing that can be executed by the mobile telephonedevice 1, in which processing not associated with address information isdisplayed but not selectable.

In doing so, as shown in FIG. 7 c, by selecting the conversion candidatecharacter string (“Ichiro Suzuki”) associated with the addressinformation, the control unit 45 may control the replacement unit 48 toreplace the input numeric character string “333333*22” displayed in thetelephone number display area 103 of the screen 100 with the addressinformation (“09012345678”) associated with the conversion candidatecharacter string. When the selection is switched to another conversioncandidate character string (for example, “suzuki” in katakanacharacters), the control unit 45 may control the replacement unit 48 toreversely replace the address information with the input numericcharacter string “333333*22”. While the address information(“09012345678”) associated with the conversion candidate characterstring is being displayed as a result of replacement by the replacementunit 48, the function setting keys 13 or the like may be operated toactivate the telephone application A3 to make an outgoing call to thetelephone number (“09012345678”).

In Step S25-2, the control unit 45 determines whether the input is forselecting a character input candidate or for selecting a function. Morespecifically, as shown in FIG. 5 d, the display unit 21 displaysselectable functions. A predetermined function is selected from amongthe selectable functions (for example, telephone, email, and SMS email);alternatively, a character input candidate is selected by thedetermination operation key 16 or the like, without selecting afunction. Based on such a selection, the control unit 45 determineswhether the input is for selecting a character input candidate or forselecting a function. In a case in which the control unit 45 determinesthat a character input candidate will be selected (character inputcandidate selection), the processing advances to Step S26. In a case inwhich the control unit 45 determines that a function will be selected(function selection), the processing advances to Step S25-3.

In Step S25-3, the control unit 45 executes the function linked with theaddress book, and the processing is terminated. More specifically, basedon the function selected in Step S25-2, the control unit 45 controls theaddress information processing unit 47 to execute (process) thefunction. In doing so, as shown in FIG. 5 e, in a case in which thereare a plurality of pieces of address information (telephone numbers)associated with the selected function (the displayed item “call” formaking an outgoing call by executing the telephone application A3), thecontrol unit 45 controls the display unit 21 to further display a listof the plurality of pieces of address information. In a case in which asingle piece of address information (for example, “09012345678”) isselected from among the plurality of pieces of address information, thecontrol unit 45 controls the address information processing unit 47 toexecute the processing (an outgoing call) for the selected addressinformation (“09012345678”).

Since the character input application A7 is running in the standby stateof the mobile telephone device 1 in the present embodiment, it ispossible to execute processing associated with address informationwithout activating a predetermined application in the standby state.

In the present embodiment, in a case in which there are a plurality ofpieces of address information associated with a selected application tobe executed, the plurality of pieces of address information areseparately displayed as shown in FIG. 5 e, but it is not limitedthereto. For example, by prioritizing the processing for addressinformation that is considered to be frequently used (for example,address information in higher rank of registration), for example, theprioritized processing may be executed without performing selection.

In Step S26, the control unit 45 adds characters to a non-numericcharacter input buffer and a numeric character input buffer, and theprocessing advances to Step S27. More specifically, since the input wasdetermined to be a non-numeric character input in Steps S23, S24 andS25-2, the control unit 45 adds characters associated with the inputcharacter string to the non-numeric character input buffer of the memory44. Numeric characters associated with the input character string areadded to the numeric character input buffer of the memory 44. Since theprocessing in Step S23 is for determining characters of the inputcharacter strings as a determined character string, the determinedcharacter string is displayed in the character display area 101 of thescreen 100, without executing the following processing.

In Step S27, the control unit 45 searches the conversion DB, and theprocessing advances to Step S28. More specifically, in a case in whichan ordinary candidate is selected in Step S24, the control unit 45controls the search execution unit 46 to search the conversion DB toextract conversion candidates or predictive candidates for the characterstring retained in the input character buffer.

In Step S28, the control unit 45 searches the address book DB, and theprocessing advances to Step S29. More specifically, in a case in which acharacter input candidate is selected in Step S25-2, the control unit 45controls the search execution unit 46 to search the conversion DB toextract address book candidates for the character string retained in theinput character buffer. Concurrently, address book candidates areextracted for the numeric character string retained in the input numericcharacter buffer. In doing so, regarding the numeric character string,the control unit 45 controls the search execution unit 46 to search fortelephone numbers and registration numbers.

In Step S29, the control unit 45 controls the display unit 21 to displayconversion candidates, and the processing advances to Step S30. Morespecifically, as shown in FIG. 5 b, the control unit 45 controls thedisplay unit 21 to display the conversion candidates or the predictivecandidates extracted in Step S27 in the conversion candidate displayarea 102 of the screen 100 (“Suzuki” and the like displayed in theconversion candidate display area 102 as shown in FIG. 5 b). The controlunit 45 controls the display unit 21 to display the address bookcandidates, which were retrieved based on the non-numeric characterstring and the numeric character string extracted in Step S28, in theconversion candidate display area 102 of the screen 100 (“Ichiro Suzuki”and “Jiro Suzuki” displayed in the conversion candidate display area 102as shown in FIG. 5 b).

In doing so, as shown in FIG. 7 b, by selecting the conversion candidatecharacter string (“Ichiro Suzuki”) associated with the addressinformation, the control unit 45 may control the replacement unit 48 toreplace the input numeric character string “333333*22” displayed in thetelephone number display area 103 of the screen 100 with the addressinformation (“09012345678”) associated with the conversion candidatecharacter string. When the selection is switched to another conversioncandidate character string (for example, “suzuki” in katakanacharacters), the control unit 45 may control the replacement unit 48 toreversely replace the address information with the input numericcharacter string “333333*22”.

As shown in FIG. 6 b, the conversion candidate character stringsassociated with the address information can be displayed differentlyfrom the other conversion candidate character strings. In FIG. 6 b, theconversion candidate character strings displayed in a highlighted mannerin the conversion candidate display area 102 are associated with theaddress information.

In Step S30, the control unit 45 terminates the character inputapplication A7, and the processing is terminated. More specifically,based on the displaying of the selected conversion candidate characterstring or the displaying of the text of the associated addressinformation, the control unit 45 determines the selected conversioncandidate character string as determined characters, and controls thedisplay unit 21 to display the determined characters.

In doing so, by operating a specific key of the function setting keys 13and the like when a conversion candidate character string is determined,the mobile telephone device 1 may display a selection screen for avariety of searches (internet, keyword, transfer information, map,email, and email text) as shown in FIG. 6 c. In a case in which aconversion candidate character string associated with the addressinformation is operated by a specific key of the function setting keys13 and the like, as shown in the dashed dotted line in FIG. 6 c, inaddition to the variety of searches, processing associated with theaddress information may be displayed in the selection screen.

In Step S30, in a case in which the control unit 45 does not terminatethe character input application A7, the processing returns to Step S22.

Consequently, the mobile telephone device 1 can utilize addressinformation, based on an input character string.

Although the preferable embodiment of the mobile telephone device 1according to the present invention has been described above, the mobiletelephone device 1 according to the present invention is not limited tothe aforementioned embodiment, and can be implemented in variousembodiments.

Although the present embodiment has described the example, in whichaddress information is utilized as a conversion candidate characterstring while running the character input application A7, it is notlimited thereto. For example, address information can be utilized forinputting characters in a variety of applications such as the emailapplication A2, the browser application A4, the scheduler applicationA5, and the memo application A6. With such a configuration, addressinformation in the address book can be easily transferred or migrated toother applications. In the mobile telephone device 1 in which anapplication is activated as a single task, it is possible to performdisplay as if a plurality of applications are concurrently activated forenabling multitask implementation.

As an example of inputting in the present embodiment, the descriptionshave provided in which the input operation keys 14 are operated to inputcorresponding katakana/hiragana characters and numeric characters;however, it is not limited thereto, and inputs associated with the inputoperation keys 14 are performed by setting. As another example of thepresent embodiment, for example, in a case in which a key of the inputoperation keys 14, the key assigned with a numeric character “2”, ahiragana character “ka” and alphabetic characters “ABC”, is operated inthe wallpaper screen shown in FIG. 10 (a), any one of the alphabeticcharacters “A”, “B” or “C” and the numeric character “2” are input,depending on the number of times the key of the input operation keys 14is operated. In doing so, in a case in which the alphabetic character“A” is input, as shown in FIG. 10 b, words with the initial “A” andstored in the conversion DB (for example, “ALBUM”, “APPLE”, etc.), andpersonal names and other names with the initial “A” and registered withthe address book are displayed as conversion candidate characterstrings. In doing so, for example, in a case in which “ANDY” and“ALICIA” are registered with the address book, “ANDY” and “ALICIA” aredisplayed with indication that the names are registered with the addressbook. As shown in FIG. 10 c, in a case in which “ANDY” is designated,subsequent processing is executed, such as displaying informationregistered with the address book (in this case, a telephone number of“ANDY” registered with the address book). FIG. 10 is a fourth schematicdiagram showing a screen to transition in a case of utilizing thecharacter input function.

Although the present invention has been described above for the mobiletelephone device 1 as an example of the electronic device, it is notlimited thereto, and the present invention can also be applied to a PHS(Personal Handyphone System). Moreover, the present invention can alsobe applied to electronic devices such as a portable gaming machine, aportable navigation device, a PDA (Personal Data Assistance), and anotebook computer.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 mobile telephone device (electronic device)    -   14 input operation key (operation unit)    -   15 selection operation key (selection unit, information        selection unit)    -   16 determination operation key (determination unit)    -   21 display unit    -   44 memory (storage unit)    -   46 search execution unit    -   45 control unit    -   47 address information processing unit    -   48 replacement unit    -   49 mode variation unit

1-10. (canceled)
 11. An electronic device, comprising: a storage unitthat stores address data including at least names or associated addressinformation; an operation unit that inputs a character string; a displayunit that displays the character string that is input by operating theoperation unit, and conversion candidate character strings that areconversion candidates for the character string thus input, theconversion candidate character strings including associable conversioncandidate character strings that link with the names and addressinformation and non-associable conversion candidate character stringsthat do not link with the names and address information; a searchexecution unit that searches the address data, based on the characterstring that is input by operating the operation unit; and a control unitthat controls the display unit to display the at least names or addressinformation, which is associated with the input character string used bythe search execution unit for searching, as an associable conversioncandidate character string that links with the at least displayed namesor address information.
 12. The electronic device according to claim 11,wherein the electronic device performs a plurality of processes asprocessing associated with the at least names or address information,wherein the control unit controls the mode variation unit to display theassociable conversion candidate character strings in different modesthat correspond to the plurality of processes.
 13. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the address data includes registrationnumbers associated with the names, wherein the operation unit includes aplurality of keys assigned with non-numeric characters and numericcharacters, wherein, in a case in which a key of the operation unit isoperated in a state where an initial screen is displayed, the displayunit displays a non-numeric character and a numeric character assignedto the key thus operated, and wherein, in a state where a non-numericcharacter string and a numeric character string are displayed on thedisplay unit in response to operation of at least one key of theoperation unit, in a case in which the numeric character stringdisplayed on the display unit coincides with one of the registrationnumbers as a result of searching by the search execution unit, thecontrol unit controls the display unit to display a name associated withthe registration number and address information associated with thename.
 14. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein theaddress data includes a plurality of pieces of address informationassociated with the respective names, wherein the operation unitincludes a plurality of keys assigned with non-numeric characters andnumeric characters, wherein, in a case in which a key of the operationunit is operated in a state where an initial screen is displayed, thedisplay unit displays a non-numeric character and a numeric characterassigned to the key thus operated, and wherein, in a state where anon-numeric character string and a numeric character string aredisplayed on the display unit in response to operation of at least onekey of the operation unit, in a case in which the numeric characterstring displayed on the display unit coincides with a telephone numberincluded in the address information of the address data as a result ofsearching by the search execution unit, the control unit controls thedisplay unit to display a name associated with the address information,or another address information of the plurality of address informationassociated with the name.
 15. The electronic device according to claim11, further comprising: a selection unit that selects a conversioncandidate character string; and a replacement unit that replaces addressinformation with an input non-numeric character string or an inputnumeric character string, wherein the operation unit includes aplurality of keys assigned with non-numeric characters and numericcharacters, wherein, in a case in which a key of the operation unit isoperated in a state where an initial screen is displayed, the displayunit displays a non-numeric character and a numeric character assignedto the key thus operated, and wherein, in a state where a non-numericcharacter string and a numeric character string are displayed on thedisplay unit in response to operation of at least one key of theoperation unit, in a case in which the selection unit selects aconversion candidate character string associated with one of the namesdisplayed on the display unit as a result of searching by the searchexecution unit, the control unit controls the replacement unit toreplace the numeric character string displayed on the display unit withaddress information, including a telephone number associated with thename, and to display the address information.
 16. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 11, further comprising a mode variation unit thatvaries a mode of displaying conversion candidate character strings onthe display unit between a first mode when displaying a non-associableconversion character string, and a second mode, different from the firstmode, when displaying an associable conversion character string.